Miniature rose plant &#39;PACfiftysix&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new miniature rose plant which has abundant, white colored flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glass houses as a flowering pot plant. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Rosa hybrida.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PACfiftysix’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, which was developed by artificially pollinating an unnamed seedling (not patented) with an unnamed seedling (not patented). The two parents were crossed in the summer of 2004 and the resulting seed was sown in December 2004, in a controlled glasshouse environment. Out of these seedlings one seedling was selected, as the new variety and named ‘PACfiftysix’. The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed seedling, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘PACfiftysix’ has medium double flowers, while the unnamed         seedling has big single flowers.     -   2. ‘PACfiftysix’ has white colored petals, while the unnamed         seedling has yellow petals.

The new variety may distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamed seedling created by the same inventor, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘PACfiftysix’ , has medium double flowers, while the unnamed         seedling has big double flowers.     -   2. ‘PACfiftysix’ white colored petals, while the unnamed         seedling has pale yellow petals.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Initial asexual reproduction of ‘PACfiftysix’ by cuttings was first done in Santa Barbara, Calif., USA. This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlled environments have demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘PACfiftysix’ are true to type and are transmitted one generation to the next. ‘PACfiftysix’ is a low and compact miniature rose with good vigor.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercial greenhouse culture was to create a new and distinct variety with:

-   -   1. Uniform and abundant flowers with good keepability;     -   2. Attractive long lasting foliage and compact growth;     -   3. Year round flowering under glasshouse conditions;     -   4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;     -   5. Durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable         for distribution in the floral industry.

This combination of qualities was not present in previously available commercial cultivars of this type, known to the inventor, and distinguish ‘PACfiftysix’ from all other varieties of which I am aware.

The seeds from hybridization were planted in a controlled environment and evaluations were conducted on the resulting plants. ‘PACfiftysix’ was selected by, Daniel Jauchen, in his development program in Santa Barbara, Calif., USA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonably to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, stems of ‘PACfiftysix’. Specifically illustrated in the drawings:

On sheet 1/2

1: Young shoot.

2: Bud before opening the sepals.

3: Bud at the stage of opening the sepals.

4: Bud at the stage of opening the petals.

5: Flower during course of opening.

6: Open flower—plan view—obverse.

7: Open flower—plan view—reverse.

8: Fully open flower—plan view—obverse.

9: Fully open flower—plan view—reverse.

On sheet 2/2

10: Receptacle showing stamens and pistils.

11: Receptacle showing pistils (stamens and sepals removed).

12: Flower petals, detached—inner surface.

13: Flower petals, detached—outer surface.

14: Bare stem exhibiting thorns and flower attachment.

15: Three leaflets upper side.

16: Three leaflets reverse side.

17: Five leaflets upper side.

18: Five leaflets reverse side.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the Miniature Rose: Rosa hybrida ‘PACfiftysix’.

The following observations, measurements, values and comparisons describe plants grown in glass houses in Santa Barbara, Calif., USA. The age of the observed plants were 3 months after propagation by cuttings, and produced as flowering pot plants in container of 10 centimeter in diameter. Environmental conditions in the cultivation area for the observed plants, has been temperatures from 64 to 78 degree Farenheit, and 10 to 20 hours day length with assimilation light. Light levels from 600 foot candle to 6000 foot candle. The relative humidity has been ranging from 50 to 85%.

Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 1995, except where common terms of color are used. For a comparison, the nearest existing rose variety is ‘POULgo001’, a rose variety described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,453. Chart 1 details several physical characteristics of ‘PACfiftysix’ and ‘POULgo001’. CHART 1 ‘PACfiftysix’ ‘POULgo001’ Petal color, Upper White Group White Group surface 155 B 155 C Petal color, Reverse White Group White Group surface 155 B 155 C Petal count 55-60 60-65

-   Parents: Unnamed seedling×unnamed seedling -   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Rosa hybrida.         -   Commercial.—Miniature. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant growth.—Moderately vigorous. Grows compact upright to             bushy. When grown as 10 cm pot plant, the average height of             the plant itself is 18 cm to 20 cm, and average width is             20 cm. When grown as a 15 cm pot plant, the average height             of the plant itself is 22 cm to 27 cm, and average width is             30 cm. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Young wood: Green Group 137C. Older wood: Green Group             137A to 137B.         -   Thorns.—Incidence: 2 to 3 per stem. Size: 1 to 4 mm. Form:             Deep concave. Color: Greyed-Red Group 179B.         -   Surface.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.         -   Stem diameter.—2 mm to 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—25 mm to 35 mm.         -   Numbers of internodes.—8 to 9. -   Plant foliage: Leaves arranged alternately, compound with 3 to 5     leaflets per leaf, generally symmetrical, abundant, and flat in     aspect. Stipules at petiole base.     -   -   Quantity of leaves.—8 to 9 per lateral branch.         -   Leaf size.—Length 55 mm to 70 mm, width 40 mm to 45mm.         -   Petioles.—Color: Green Group 137A, with intonations of             Greyed-Red Group 181A. Margins: Entire. Length: 10 mm to 15             mm Diameter: about 0.5 mm to 1 mm.         -   Stipules.—Size: Length 3 mm to 6 mm, width 1 mm to 2 mm.             Surface: Smooth. Color for upper surface: Green Group 137A,             with intonations of Greyed-Red Group 181D. Color for lower             surface: Green Group 137A, with intonations of Greyed-Red             Group 181D. Margins: Entire. Number if stipules per leaf:             two.         -   Rachis.—Color: Green Group 137A, with intonations of             Greyed-Red Group 181A Margins: Entire. Length: 25 mm to             35 mm. Diameter: 0.5 mm to 1 mm.         -   Leaflets.—Edge: Serrated. Serration: Single. Shape: Ovate             with acute apex and obtuse base. Texture: Smooth.             Appearance: Dull. Size: length: 18 mm to 35 mm, width: 10 mm             to 17 mm. Color: Young foliage: Upper surface: Green Group             136A. Lower surface: Green Group 137B, Color: Mature             foliage: Upper surface: Green Group 139A Lower surface:             Green Group 137B Leaf vein color: Upper surface: Green Group             136A Reverse surface: Green Group 138D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent.         -   Number of flowers.—Generally one bud per flowering stem.         -   Peduncle.—Color: Green Group between 137B and 137D. Texture:             Smooth. Length: 20 mm to 25 mm Diameter: 1 mm to 2 mm.             Strength: Upright.         -   Receptacle.—Surface: Smooth, glabrous. Shape: Funnel-shaped.             Size: height 5 mm to 6 mm, width 4 mm to 5 mm. Color: Green             Group 138A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: five. Shape: Narrowly ovate w. acute tip.             Texture: Leathery. Margin: Foliaceous appendages on one of             the five sepals. Appearance: Dull. Color: Upper surface:             Green Group between 139A and 139B, Reverse surface: Green             Group between 137B and 137C Size: Length 20 mm to 25 mm,             width 3 mm to 5 mm.         -   Buds.—Size: Height 10 mm to 15 mm, diameter 10 mm to 15 mm,             Upon opening. Shape: Ovoid. Color: at ¼ opening, White Group             155B.         -   Flower.—Duration: As a pot plant, flowers last from 11 to 14             days. Fragrance: Slightly parfume. Size: 40 mm to 45 mm in             diameter. Depth: 15 mm to 20 mm. Form: Shape of flower when             viewed from the side: Upon opening: Cupped to ovoid. Open             flower: Flat. Color: Petals, upon opening: Upper surface:             Outer petals White Group 155B, Inner petals Yellow-Orange             Group between 14A and 14D. Reverse surface: Outer petals             White Group 155B, Inner petals Yellow-Orange Group between             14A and 14D. Petals after opening: Upper surface: Outer             petals White Group 155B, Inner petals Yellow-Orange Group             between 14A and 14D. Reverse surface: Outer petals White             Group 155B, Inner petals Yellow-Orange Group between 14A and             14D. General tonality: On open flower: Third day: White             Group 155B Afterwards: White Group 155B with Yellow-Orange             Group between 16A and 16D towards the center. -   Petals:     -   -   Petal reflex.—Outermost petals reflex backwards at opening.             Fully open all petals reflex backwards.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Petal edge.—Entire.         -   Petal count.—55 to 60 on the average per flower.         -   Petal size.—Length 12 mm to 20 mm, width 12 mm to 20 mm.         -   Shape.—Outer petals: Round — ovate Inner petals: Ovate Apex:             Rotundate. Base: Obtuse to rotundate.         -   Petaloids.—none. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—Approximately 20 to 25 on average per flower.         -   Stamens length.—3 mm to 4 mm.         -   Pollen.—Color: Greyed-Orange Group 168B. Abundance: Heavy.         -   Anthers.—Size: 1 mm to 1.5 mm Color: Yellow-Orange Group             23B. Shape: Oblong.         -   Filaments.—Size: 2 mm to 3 mm. Color: Yellow Group 13A.         -   Pistils number.—Approximately 40 to 45 on average per             flower.         -   Stigmas.—Location: Protrude more than the anthers. Color:             Yellow-Orange Group 21C, with intonations of Greyed-Purple             Group 185C.         -   Styles.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 157D. Length: 4 mm to 5             mm. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Dense.         -   Blooming.—Abundant.         -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—Poor.         -   Resistance to diseases.—Above average resistance to mildew             and Botrytis under normal growing conditions in Santa             Barbara, Calif., USA. Hips/seeds has not been observed due             to that the plant has never been grown to the stage of seed             development, due to the fact, that the variety is developed             for use as a flowering pot plant only.         -   Winter hardiness & drought/heat tolerance.—Due to the fact,             that this variety is a potted flowering plant, developed             indoor use only, the plant is not tested for winter             hardiness or drought/heat tolerance. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Rose plant of the miniature class, substantially as herein illustrated and described as a distinct and novel rose variety due to its abundant white flowers, attractive long lasting foliage, vigorous and compact growth, year round flowering under glasshouse conditions, suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots, and durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable for distribution in the floral industry. 